As demonstrated in our mission, vision and current strategic plan, Drake University has a long-standing commitment to community engagement & service-learning. The depth and breadth of Drake’s community engagement efforts are deep and encompass the entire width of the institution spanning from a 95 year old collaboration with the city of Des Moines for a science education program with the Drake Municipal Observatory to a six county Drake University Head Start Program serving over 900 children and families.

Community engagement & service-learning not only fulfills the institution's historic mission, but faculty and student involvement in the community enhances teaching and advising, research and scholarship, outreach, and the university community as a whole.

As a result of feedback received from the Community Engagement Audit conducted fall 2013, we have learned that Faculty, staff and students are regularly engaged with the Drake Neighborhood, in the Des Moines Metro and internationally through both their personal and professional endeavors.

Over 80% of Drake students participate in a community service or service-learning experience before they graduate.

More than a quarter of our courses include service-learning as tool for teaching.

70% of Faculty and Staff serve in the community with nonprofits, boards, professional organizations, and schools.

Collectively, the nine members of cabinet serve as board members with more than 40 different nonprofit organizations.

Together, we are achieving Strategic Plan goal IV of engaging with Drake’s key constituents to advance the University and to fulfill our commitments to the communities of which we are a part.